Call for Membership Applications: Key Correspondent Network for Citizen Journalists

The Key Correspondents network is made of citizen journalists who are
passionate about sharing their views, experiences, and important issues
with a broad audience. The network aims to influence HIV and broader health
policy, programming and financing at a local, national and international
level. Our citizen journalists come from diverse backgrounds and include
representatives from marginalised groups most at risk of HIV and people
living with HIV, to report the HIV, health and human rights stories that
matter to them.

The Key Correspondents network is supported by the International HIV/AIDS
Alliance (http://www.aidsalliance.org/homepagedetails.aspx?id=1), which
assists with mentoring, training and opportunities for citizen journalists
to be more widely heard.

New applications for membership of the Key Correspondents network will be
reviewed annually in March. But please note that, in 2014, they will not be
recruiting from the following countries, where they already have a large
number of correspondents: Kenya, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

And to apply they need to fill out the online application form:
https://www.keycorrespondents.org/kc-community/your-profile/

KCs would be asked to sign a KC agreement that outlines the role and
responsibilities of both the Alliance and the KC.

Benefits for people who join the Key Correspondents network include:

– The opportunity to speak out about the issues where they want to see
change and have their voices heard by an international audience via the KC
website and social media. Also, support for pitching their stories to
local, national and regional media outlets.

– Membership of the network helps build KCs individual reputation as a
specialist in the field of HIV. The KC team has relationships with
international media outlets and if the stories are good enough we pitch
them to these outlets which, although not paid, increases the exposure of
KCs at the international level and potentially could lead to paid work. Of
course, this depends on how much the individual engages with the network
and delivers quality stories. For example I recently put forward one KC for
a paid reporting position with Aidspan and he was successful. But I would
emphasize that this does not happen regularly.

– Mentoring to help build skills in journalism, including news writing,
blogging, social media and photography. At a minimum this will mean access
to the new training manual and distance learning via email with the KC
editor who will provide feedback and guidance on their stories, plus on the
exercises in the training guide:
http://www.keycorrespondents.org/mentoring/change-the-world/

– There will also be opportunities for KCs to apply for our 4-5 day
training workshops, usually held once a year in either Africa or Asia. If
successful all their costs are covered, including flight and accommodation.

– Opportunities to apply for funding to attend international
conferences.  Last year we supported two KCs to attend the Women Deliver
conference in Malaysia, two KCs to attend ICASA in South Africa, and six
KCs to attend the International Conference on Family Planning in Ethiopia.

– The KC team also keeps its members informed of scholarship
opportunities with other organisations and provides letters of support on
request. Also, as a member of the network KCs are eligible to apply for
free media registration at international conferences.

– Throughout the year we commission around ten stories for key media
moments. All KCs are invited to pitch their ideas for stories at these key
moments.

For more information:click Here

Call for Nominations:Commonwealth Youth Award for Excellence in Development Work 2012!

Commonwealth Youth Award for Excellence in Development Work 2012

Do you know of a young person making a positive difference to the lives of other people in your community or country?

The Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP) is inviting nominations for the 2012 Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work.

We are looking for young people whose development work reflects the Commonwealth’s Plan for Youth Empowerment to:

1. Promote youth participation in decision making

2. Promote the economic empowerment of young people

3. Take action for equality between young men and women

4. Promote peaceful and democratic environments in which human rights flourish

5. Provide quality education for all

6. Improve access to information and communication technology

7. Promote health, development and values through sports and culture

8. Engage young people to protect the environment

 

COMMONWEALTH YOUTH AWARDS NOMINATION FORM

General information

The nominee must have been engaged in development work for more than 12 months, either in a professional or voluntary capacity;

– The development work must be ongoing and taking place in a Commonwealth Country;

– The nominee should not be older than 29 on 31 December 2012.

– Individuals cannot nominate themselves in a personal capacity;

– The winners must agree to take part in publicity generated by the Commonwealth.

Applications open on Commonwealth Day March 12 2012 and close on July 31 2012.